Wringer



Sept. 21, 1943. c. W. wlLLlAMs WRINGER Filed May 19, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. en/eff Mf/aw.: n I a d? 77%, (9 ATTORNEY? Sept. 21, 1943.

C. W. WILL'IAMS WR INGEH Filed May 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WRINGER Filed May 19, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATToRNEYey,

Patented Sept. 21, 1943 WmNGn I charles W. williams, o1eve1anaohi0, assigner to, Automatic Safety Wringer Company, a partnership i ApplicationMay 19,1937, seriaiNo. 143,521 f '24 claims.

This invention relates to a clothes, wringer designed from the standpoint of affording safety to the operator as well as from the standpoint of eiciently wringing clothes orany other suitable object passed therethrough.

The wringer is of the multiple roll type in which two rolls are used to effect a wringing action and the third roll provides an intake bite f which guards the operator by preventing passa-geef the hand into the dangerous pressure roll bite. Mechanism is provided in my improved wringer to stop the operation of the same when material exceeding a predetermined thickness is fed to the intake bite. In this manner ifv the operators hand should be caught in the pressure roll; bite and drawn into the wringer the thickness of the hand will act to stop the operation of the Vdev1ce.

I prefer to employ three rollsin my improved wringer', locating them in such manner that the top roll contacts both of the otherrolls. Pressure is interchangeably applied to the bite formed bythe toproll and either of the other rollsdesired. In each case thethird roll then acts with the top or common roll to provide the intake bite.

In general the objects of my invention may be said to embody the construction of a multiple rollwringer which wrings clothes efliciently, affcrds vadequateprotection to the operator and is simple in construction. Other objects of myy invention will becomeapparent from the description following when read in conjunction lwith the drawings appended hereto. The important features of my invention are' summarized in the claims.

In the annexed drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation'showing the genera construction of my wringer;

Fig. 2 is a downward View showing the wringer with the parts exposed by Vopening the top;

Fig.j3 -is 'a vertical section through the `wringer; Figs. 4, 5 and aresections throu'ghFig'j-Sjas indicated by the lines 4-`4, 5 -5 and` 6-5 respec-.- tively. ,i v` Referring now to the drawingsand more particularly to Fig, 1 my wringer [comprises a bodylil carrying a top l2 and mounted on ahead `l5, having'Y an operatirigjdrive I6 connecting with an ordinary'ty'pe of washing machine wringe'r post.

The power head 'of my wringer isof a type well known in the art and is best shown in Fig. 3. The

power connection I6 comprises the downward end of a `st ubshaft l1 carrying a .bevelgear 2( l. Continually in engagement with.A the. gear are two bevel gears-23 and' 24 idly ca ."rried ongamstub shaft` 25. The inner end of the stub shaft carries ak gear 30. Slidably secured `to the shaft 25 is a c1utch.28 operated by a handle 29 Vand movable intoengagement witheither of its adjacent bevel gears', ask desired, `to establish a drive at theV .gear 30 which may be 'either clockwise or counter-clockwise. i ,A

Of the three rolls in my wringer, the uppermost one is power driven.` Still referring -to Fig. 3, Athis top roll, designated at 35, is carried in a pair of bushings 31 and` 3 3, veach of which is secured by respective stirrups i0 against journals42 integral with the top` I2. At the leithand end of the shaftl ofthe roll 35 (Fig. 3) there issecureda gear 45, the rotationof which revolves the aforementioned roll.

The gears" 3 0 and 45 are operatively connected byan ,intermediate gear 50. This gear, asshown in Figs. '2, 3 and 4, is carried on a short stub sha-ft 52 Vwhich inf-turn ismounted in an arm 55 and whiclris idly carried at the left-hand end of the bushing 31,;11; `will ythus be apparentthatwhen the -three gears Aaremaintained in operative relation-tol each other; the roll 35 will. be drivenby-rotation of the connection I6. This means of retaining the member 55 will be hereinafter described. i 1 Theroll35coacts with'a pair yof lower rolls 60 and fxf'ffhese latter vrolls are rotatably carried at their yends byrespectivebushings 61, which in turn are rotatably carried in roll blocksl.- V.The bushings ar e sogcarried to permit the blocks 10 torokreely. when one pair of bushings are carryingthe pressure spring load. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the bushingsl terminate adjacent the rolls in an inner angedportion, `one face of which bears against Aa cross-rib H of the body portion` lil.y Thus the ared side portions of the ,two bushings 6l carried on gopposite ends of a lowerv roll shaft prevent axial movement of the rollsby abutting the 'aforethe .ribs filare" cut out adjacent their mid-section to permit freeupfand down motion of the rolls =and65 in the roll blocks 19. The roll blocks ,10 are normally prevented from downward movement by the action of aV pair of light springs 'l5 which, at their top, liein a cupshaped part ofthe blocks 'l0 and at the bottom overlie apin-shaped projection at the lower edge ofthe rib'll (seeiFig'. 6).` l

. Wringing pressure is applied between the roll 35 and either of the other rolls desired by pressure springs 80, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. These springs are restrained between a pivoted block bushing of either of the lower rolls desired. As shown in Fig, 5, this comprises a pair of re-f cessed cam edges 96 in eachblock, thefrightfv hand surface being adapteditoengagethe. rigidi-Q y hand bushing 61 and the left-hand surface the It will thus be apparent that when the two spring assemblies,-as shownfinFig. 3, are moved to underlie the bushing of-,the `roll i left-hand bushing.

60 the same will be urged upwardly against the roll 35to.v create-a lpressure el'oilibite.. The tendency.k of theroll A25.0 Lto fmcvessidewise is L prevented byithe abutting edges of :the ribs ill. At vthe .samef time. as clothes a-reffed .xtcizthe twringer and -the1ro1ls tend tozseparatethefrolldmay move downwardly byslidingaalong thefribs "l I andicompressing the pair of springs 80. ".I-nlike-m-anner, when .the pressure Yspring f assemblies farev :shifted to underlie the 1011.85 v1that froll `will coact with thetop rollitoprovide :afsmilarintakefbita The spring .mechanism'is sshifted from-side to side iby \a @handle -or'bail :carried f in ithe 'top` `i! 2. This lbailfcomprises a fhandle member lsecured at .each endto an'arm fm2 which inturn'is pivotally .carried I-by lrespective ibushings 53'1 :and 38. The lower ends/of ftheimembers m2 'carry pins M5, .-a's lshcwn `in Figs. 12,.'3fand 5. fThe'tops of'the blocks 85 are slottedfforzengagement'with the'saidlpins, :as also asl'iowninlfii'gs. 2,l3 ,1and 5. 'At the top of the slot the *blocks nare ro'utwardly to :provide ia surface against vll`which the pins 1405 vmay yslide -when fthe ltop Ais (closed. "If ithe pin and lthe'slots do --not coincide, shiftingoffthe handle bar #will :slide'ithe pins until they-drop into their respective-slots, at whichtimelthetop maybe completely closed. Itth-ereforeifollows that the pressure spring mechanism -may jbe shifted from side 1-to side Abyfrocllzing fthe-handle Imfwhich in turn acts ithrough the fpins 'IUS-to shift -the ,blocks 285. It should 'be lnoted '-at'lthis time that when the handle is'infanmpriglitposif tion the pressure :spring mechanism flies 'between its coacting hbushings and there is -no-wringing pressure applied -to :either of tthe=lovver ro'lls, which means that'there'is no wringing pressure between any of therollsfin Ithe Wrirrger. Thus a simple pressure release is -ereoted'byshiiting the lhandle l Ito La*neutral position.

AS heretofore yindicated, the tcp l 1 is hinged to ythe fbody t by a -suitablefp'air of -hinges jl P0." The top `is :retained in -afclosed-'position" by 4any suitable latches YNH2, -Fig1`6, which -acts'to'draw the top `hook portion rdownwardly as the thumbl portion is lalso pushed downwardly. It shouldV be -noted (IFig. l'6) that as the top is closed the rolls $0 and -55 are v-puslfied'down a small amount by roil against the springs 5F55 to Yinsure the establishing of an effective auxiliary roll bite.

Referring now to the Ina-nner -of maintaining At the head end of the shafts therey the establishment ofthe drive.

' c'rfleft-hand end', as Shown the gear 50 to force the bar 55 to the left and disengage the gears.

"prevented by the contacting cam faces of the A.leftehand `plate I-l'l.

This motion, however, is

Although Lit isnecessary to retain the leithand plate injposition to retain a drive, it is desirable to depress the right-hand plate to prelvent'drivingtlfie -wringer in a direction such as will Acause the intake bite and the pressure roll bite to coincide. If this were not done the wringer obviously wouldfbe unsafe. LFor `this reason mechanism is provided to rock thecam plate 'which wouldl permit such direction'dfdrive downwardly. Thus'vif the operatorattemptstn so connect the drive thereisnthingto'prevent the gear 3d from roeking'tliegearcandits'arm 55 out ofV engagement withitandthus 'break any drive to the roll '-35. Toaccomplish the'objedt aforementioned Athe pivot block 82 V'adjacentthe head lis `-provided with la jpair of outwardly extending arms H20 which 'terminate'in'pins |22. Secured to thelrock `shafts 'H5 are :downwardly extending Ingers I2 5 which "may 'he abutted by the pins 22. When the Vspring mechanism dsin the positionshowniin `Fig. '4 the right-hand pin fl-22 rocksthefadjacentlinger `[25 downwardly, rocking the shaft H5 and 'dropping the righthand plate I Il out of coacting position with the block P55. -Thusfif the 4operator attempts to establish adrivein such direction asto make the pressure uroll bite the intake "bite, '.the 'block 55 and the 'gearslip out 'of engagement with .the gear :3U ywhen theV same `is rctatetl and ;prevent Ag pair o'f springs 121, secnredat' one end .in the top I'Z and slidablyibearing 'at the other end in grooves at each side o'fthe block "55, see lEig. 2, tendto Ymaintain the 4block ina vertical position. Thus :if the operator,` .having once attempted-to drive 'in' an incorrect direction, `now reversesfthe drive, 4the jgear 30, due ',to the Vinward urging Acf one of .the .springs `|21, will engage 'the 'gear 5D and rock the mechanism .into contactwith -the 'upstanding cam plate ITLand rotate the roll 35. It will `be apparent that when the pressure mechanism Vis shifted from the .roll 6'0 to the roll 55 the 'left-hand finger |25 Will rock the leftfhandcaniplate lll to an inactive positionand again 'safeguard 'the operator.

The cam plate v mechanism isso arrangedthat it is. rccked out of engagement .with `the member 55 lwhen an vexcess thicknessof clothes or the operator's hands are fed to the 'intake bite. 'When this contingency arises the auxiliary .bite end in Fig. 4, of .the roll blocks 730 drops because of the .excessive downward movement of the intakeroll 65. The .lower edges of `the blocks then contact fingers .|30 -secured to the corresponding rock shaft .U5 and thus in `turn the cam plate H'lis rocked out of engagementwith the bar 55 and `the ,gear V311. clue to the direction of rotation,limmediate1y swings the Vgear V5f! out of drivingengagement sothatsumcient depression of either block '1U ward the top roll and positioning rthem'` when theftop fis fopen 'above their position when the top .is :closed :and latc'h means to retain the Etop closed :and :the flower afoll unit positioned below the open position cby tne ltop :roll :and'against the resilient means; Y Y i 1110. In fa 'wringen a main iframe', 'and :a top frame therefor, :a roll .carried aby Ethe topirarn'e, two rolls substantially vertically movable wi'th respect 'to :said :main frame coasting with the `top roll -:to Jproyide -a ipair o'f 'upwardly facing' bites, resiiient means to urge 'the lower roi-1s toward the t'o'p roll and positioning `them when Athe top is lopen abovefftheir positionfwhen 'the top iis closed 'and latch m'eanst'o' retain the' top fclosed and 'the lower roll `unit positioned 'belo'w lthe open position vby A'rneansfdf the ftop roll and :against ithe resilient means, wringin'gpressure mechanism inv -sfai'd Lwringer including lresilien't means -bearing lat'r'ine end against said frame and =shfiftable through v'three positionsftwo of said positionsirespe'ctively establishing wringing pressure 'a't 'each o'f [one l'of said -rol'l bites ires'pfedtively, 'andthe third position Areleasing wringing pressure trom' bc'itlrsai`d`b"it`es.l i"

1`1. 'Infa wringer, a frame, three' rolls carried thereby 1in position ito establish a pair oi roll bites, shiftabl'e 'pressure mechanism to apply wringingjpressure atethe'r roll bite desired, power means to "drive said rolls, 'a separable -connection between sai'd 'power 'means land said rolls, and mechanism carried by "the frame and controlledby the -shiitablepressuremeans to prevent thelrotation 'o'f said rolls in 'a direction to permit feedmg'direc'tly'to the pressure *roll-bite -by openingsaidseparableconnection. 4

12. kIn Aa wringer, 'a iframe, three `rolls carried thereby in position to 4establish 4a 'pair of rollV bites, shift'able pressure mechanism to `apply wringing 'pressure at ieitherroll 'bite desired, power means to drive said rolls, a wringer drive between said means and said 'rolls comprising a pairor `separable 'drive members; a support for one-'of said members zso arranged and supported as 'to allow disengagement of the members in either 'of two directions, the 'tendency `to Ldisengage being caused by the 'drivin'g Lengagement or the .'members, a pair o'f 3shiftable cams -adapted eadh "to engagejsaid support to prevent disen-A gagement in `one'df"said "directions, 4and means oon't'rdiledby the 'positionof said pressure mechanisni to displace `one 'of said shiftable -cams 'to permit'the 'rotation-of said 'rollslin Fonly-one dir`ec`l tion for each position 'of said shiftable 'pressure mechanism. Y i

i3. In awr'in'ger, a frame, three rolls carried thereby vin position to establish a `pair of roll bites, 'shiftable pressure `mechanism to 'apply wringingpressure'atieither `roll bite desired, powe'means todrive said rolls, a'wringe'r -drive between saidY means 'and,'said rol1s lcomprising a pair of separable `drive '-merribers, aj support 'for one 'of said members so 'arranged "and `supported as "to a'llow disengagement `of the members in either of two directions, the tendency vto Ydisengga'ge being caused by the Adriving engagement of the members, a pair Vof ls'hiftable 'cams adapted each to engage said support to prevent disengagement in one of said directions, and Almeans operated lby feeding an `-excess "thickness lof clothes to the 'wringer to shift the active cam' maintaining the Adrive to permit the sep-arable drive fmem'bers to separateand stop the rotation` ffthewringer. y D

11i. In a`wringer,atrame, .three :rolls `carried in fsaid frame :m position to `simultaneously `es tablish ltwo clothes gripping roll bites, mechanism including resilient means to lselectively establish wringing pressure at either bite desired, power means .to drive said rolls, 'reversing mechanism to selectively rotate said rolls in 'either direction desired and mechanism interconnecting said wringing pressure `establishing mechanism and said reversing mechanism to 'prevent 'operation of said wringerin va manner'to 'allow feeding ma:-y terial directly to vthe rolls lunder 'wringing 'pres-l sure.

15. In a wringer, ia frame, three rolls carried thereby with thei-raxes triangularly spaced apart and with one roll surface in bite establishing relation with the roll surfaces vof'each of the other two rolls, pressure `means to selectively establish an intake light pressure bite and a heavy pressure wringing bite at opposite sides of thewring`` er, power means to 4drive said rolls including Ya separable `connection normally tending to disengage under load, reverse means torreverse the direction of rotation of said rolls, and means interconnected with said selective pressure means to actuate said separable 4connection to prevent feeding clothes directly to the heavyl pressure wringing bite.

16. In a wringer, a frame, three-rolls carried thereby with their axes triangularly spaced apart and with one roll Asurface 'in bite establishing re-` lation with the roll surfaces of each of the other two rolls, pressure means to selectively establish an intake light pressure bite and a heavy pres-Y Sure wringing bite at opposite 'sides of the wring-v er, power means to drive said rolls including a separable connection, reverse means to reverse the direction of rotation `of said rolls, said separable connection comprising a driving member, a driven member and an 'intermediate member therebetween, to drivingly connect the driving and driven members, means, to `normally retain said members indriving engagement'and means interconnecting said Vseparable connection 4and operative upon a predetermined separation between the rolls to release -themeans for normally retaining Vsaid connections, vand resilient4 means" acting on said vintermediate 'member to position saidmember in powertransmitting.relation with the driving and driven members.

1'7. Inra wringer, a .framefa vrollrotatively carried in said frame, a pair of irollsadapted to simultaneously coact with said ki'lrst roll to .provide a pair of clothes grippingroll bites, a 'paix'..of roll blocks, one disposed Yat each -end of isaid wringer `and .rotatably, supporting =said rpair `of rolls in spaced relation with `each other, :resilient heavy pressure .mechanism shiftably supported kin said frame and shiftableto urge said ,first roll and-eitherofisaidpair of rollstoward eachother to selectively establisha l,pressure wringing bite coincident with one of said bites between said first roll and either of saidpair .of rolls asyfdesired.

18. Ina wringer,a -frame,la yroll rotatably carried in `said frame, a pair of rolls adapted to simultaneouslycoact with said rstifroll to provide a pair of clothes gripping roll bites, a pair of roll blocks, one disposedat each end of said wringer and rotatably supporting said pairi-of rolls in spaced vrelation `with each other, resilient light pressure-means to urgeisaid blocks andsaid pair of rolls toward said first -roll `to establish said bites, resilient, heavy .pressure mechanism shiftablysupported said frame andshittable to urge said first roll and either of said pair of rolls toward each other to selectively establish a pressure wringing bite coincidentl with one of said bites between said rst roll and either of said pair of rolls as desired.

19. In a wringer, a frame,'three rolls carried thereby with one roll surface in bite establishing relation with the roll surfaces of each of the other two rolls, means to resiliently lightly press said other two rolls toward said one roll, shiftable mechanism to alternatively establish heavy wringing pressure between said one roll and eitherof the other two rolls, and link members connecting said other rolls to maintain them in fixed position relative to each other.

20. In a wringer, a frame, three rolls carried thereby with one roll surface in bite establishing relation with the roll surfaces of each of the other two rolls, means to `resiliently lightly` press each of said other two rolls toward said one roll, shiftable mechanism to alternatively establish heavy wringing pressure between said one roll and either of the other two rolls and link members connecting said other rolls to maintain them in xed position relative to each other.

21. A wringer comprising a frame, a roll rotatably carried in said frame, a pair of rolls adjacent said first roll, means for alternately pressing one of said adjacent rolls against said first roll to provide wringing rolls, means for pressing the other adjacent roll against one of said wringing rolls to provide rolls for feeding material to said wringing rolls, reversible power means to drive said rolls in either direction and mechanism to prevent the rotation of the rolls acting as wringing rolls in such direction as to permit feeding material directly to said wringing rolls.

22. A wringer comprising a frame, a roll rotatably carried in said frame, a pair of rolls adjacent said first roll, means for alternately pressing one of ksaid adjacent rolls against said'rst roll to provide wringing rolls and the other ad-l 23. A wringer comprising a frame, three rolls'y carried in said frame in position to establish a pair of roll bites, means shiftable to apply wringing pressure to either roll bite as desired, power means to drive said rolls, reversing mechanism to drive said rolls in either direction desired and mechanism to prevent the rotation of said rolls in such direction as to .permit feeding at the pressure roll bite.

24. A wringer comprising a frame, three rolls in said frame with one rollI coacting with the other two to provide `a pair of roll bites, shiftable mechanism to establish wringing pressure at either roll bite desired, reversible power means to drive said rolls and operable in connection with said shiftable mechanismto prevent rota-` tion of said rolls in a direction .to permit feeding clothes directly to the rolls under wringing pres- Sure.

CHARLES W. WILLIAMS. 

